Police officer forced to strip down to her underwear wins £800,000 in discrimination case

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A former firearms officer who was forced to strip down to her underwear throughout coaching has gained over £800,000 in a intercourse discrimination case towards West Midlands Police.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Kalam was topic to sexual harassment and discrimination whereas working for the police drive. The former firearms officer, who joined the drive in 2012, had dreamed of changing into chief constable “to try and change the culture from the inside”.

An employment tribunal heard she was stripped down  down to her underwear throughout a coaching train so first assist could possibly be given. The situation was based mostly on a bullet gap on the highest of her left breast, which officers would then have to deal with, and this left her feeling “extremely uncomfortable”.

On one other event she was instructed “just because you have t*ts does not mean you cannot do a press-up” as an officer pushed down on her neck with their foot.

The 40-year-old was one in every of solely seven ladies in a firearms crew with 250 males and confronted a “toxic and discriminatory” tradition.

Mrs Kalam efficiently sued the drive for harassment, intercourse discrimination and victimisation, to win a complete of £820,720.

West Midlands Police have confirmed three serving firearms officers are at present suspended and 10 are in the disciplinary course of.

In an announcement following the unique tribunal, Mrs Kalam mentioned: “I had the ambition and drive to progress to the senior ranks, up to chief constable, and I was on track to do so.”

“One of the reasons I stayed on in the department was to try and change the culture from the inside,” she added.

The choice to award her compensation for lack of earnings and pension was the “unanimous decision of the tribunal panel”.

West Midlands Police Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green mentioned: “I am sorry that more was not done sooner to address the serious issues raised by Mrs Kalam and I apologise for the significant impact that these have had on her which has been highlighted during the tribunal.

“There is no place in policing for misogynistic, discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour and much progress has been made to set and reinforce the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.

“The tribunal recognises that we have taken the grievance and disciplinary matters raised by Mrs Kalam seriously. The steps we have taken are helping us to attract and retain the best and most diverse people in firearms policing, and benefit those already working in this critical area. We continue to make progress to ensure that we are trusted by the public as we go about our duty to protect them.”

He continued that, over the previous two years the firearms unit has labored to enhance its tradition and requirements, and reviewed how they recruit officers to improve variety.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, mentioned: “I have been committed to constant and unremitting action to hold the Chief Constable and West Midlands Police to account, to ensure that action has been taken to eliminate any and all misogyny, racism, homophobia and unlawful discrimination from within the Firearms Operations Unit and West Midlands Police more widely.

“Rebecca Kalam has shown courage and resilience throughout her tribunal claim. Her claim highlighted a toxic culture of misogyny and unlawful discrimination that had inexplicably and inexcusably proliferated within the Firearms Operations Unit.

“All police officers have a duty to comply with the highest standards of conduct, ethics, integrity and professionalism. That is non-negotiable. If there are any police officers, that are incapable of grasping, understanding and implementing this basic principle, then they have no place in the police service.”